Simple Home and Happiness

I finally cracked the ole paint bucket back open today. I got about half of the first coat of edging in the office done before life beckoned and I had to wash the brush and shut things down. What can you do? That's just DIY in real life. I start one project just to stop and start another. Painting walls isn't exactly kid friendly, so when the babes are around I try to do something a little less messy or just wait till nap time. So I decided to do a small project after lunch. By little, I mean it took less than ten minutes. I have a storage box that I use to store the girls' shoes in. There is over twenty pairs of shoes in this thing and the girls are in and out of this box several times a day. I bought the storage box for cheap, because the top cover was wearing off at the time. Soon after I got it, I pulled the torn cover off and it has sat in our entry way looking like this since we moved in. It needed a little update. I unscrewed the hinges that held the...

We've been in Lucky for nearly a month (still can't believe that!), I think it's time to quit procrastinating and finish up some of the little projects that I was planning on finishing as soon as we moved in. On this list are; finishing the paint touch ups in the office, living room, dining and kitchen. Once that is complete I can really start decorating. But alas, I have been lacking the ambition to get out the paint and trays and brushes after all the painting I've already done! Instead I've been pinning away like crazy on Pintrest. Here's a little of what's been inspiring me lately... Via Loving this gallery wall.  Via Oraganized entry? Yes please! Via I have two little girls that would squeal over this room! Via Love. Everything. About. This. Kitchen.  Via And what I really need, an inviting place to rest.  What's been inspiring you? Thanks for stopping by! 

It's been forever since I have posted a recipe on the blog.  Recently I went home to my parents house and ever since I got back, I have been craving my Mom's homemade bread.  Making homemade bread can seem like a daunting task. This one is definitely not. It takes about five minutes to mix together, two hours to raise, and thirty minutes to bake.  There is literally two hours thirty five minutes standing between you and warm, melt in your mouth homemade bread.  As with most things I make, I took the recipe and winged it, given what I had on hand. The only thing I changed was that the recipe calls for bread flour, and I only had two cups of that, so the rest I used regular all purpose flour. I will say the same thing my mom told me, all purpose flour will work, but bread flour is better.  So without further adieu, I give you my mom's recipe for homemade bread! Homemade White Bread Mix together:  2 1/2 cups warm w...

My sister stopped by the other day on her way through town. There were still boxes in corners and not really any official decorating done. She commented in the not-so-subtle that only a sister can, that she was very surprised with how nonchalant I have been about taking my time in putting the house together. Not exactly sure how to run with that, but I'm going to take it as a compliment! It means I am being calm and patient .   Thanks sister :) In fact, I just put my first screw in the wall of the addition the other day to hang a mirror. I was terrified of messing up and having to do it twice. In the old house it didn't really matter, if I missed a stud it was just fake paneling, so I didn't care, but in this house, I don't want a hundred holes in the new sheetrock! Luckily it only took one try. I used my stud finder, took a couple measurements and bada-bing I have a mirror hung! Elsewhere though, its another story! The walls in the existing house are all pla...